CLAREMONT, N.H. — The city of Claremont is pleased to announce the opening of its spring exhibit, “A brief history of the Arts in Claremont 1830-1930″ at the Mike Satzow Visitors Center. This first quarterly exhibit is a collaboration of many local organizations including the Claremont Opera House, the Claremont Historical Society, the Fiske Free Library, Claremont Custom Framing and Art Restoration and the Claremont MakerSpace. Representatives of these organizations attended a soft opening and reception on April 4.
The exhibit covers fine art, theater, music and historic facts about special events and people from the city’s past.
“Over a century ago, Claremont was considered the cultural center of western New Hampshire. Many items and stories shared in this exhibit help validate this claim,” said Felicia Dalke, chair of the Claremont Arts, History, and Culture Commission and executive director of the Claremont MakerSpace. “The town was very supportive of the arts with many talented residents, and the local venues attracted nationally acclaimed artists and entertainment.”
“This exhibit is a celebration of Claremont’s creative spirit, honoring the artists, stories and cultural heritage that shape who Claremont is,” said City Manager Yoshi Manale. “The city is proud to host this exhibit at the Mike Satzow Visitors Center, a space that welcomes visitors to experience the vibrant heart of our city through art.”
A couple of the impressive stories shared in the exhibit cover landscape artist Albert Bierstadt, 1830-1902, and renown composer and conductor John Phillip Sousa, 1854-1932. Two of Bierstadt’s original butterfly paintings and his paint box are in Claremont, reproduced for the exhibit by David Putnam of Claremont Custom Framing & Art Restoration. These items are courtesy of the Claremont NH Historical Society and the Fiske Free Library.
“Board members believe [that] sharing the story of Claremont’s rich cultural history with the public is part of the mission of the Claremont NH Historical Society,” said Cheri Losito, Board president. “Being able to collaborate with other local groups invested in Claremont’s history is a first step in meeting our community engagement goals within our newly rolled-out strategic plan. “I encourage you to come to our museum, which is open from the first weekend in June through the end of September. After this spring exhibit ends, Bierstadt’s paint set and a copy of the Historical Society’s Bierstadt butterfly will be on permanent display in our museum.”
John Phillip Sousa performed twice at the Claremont Opera House with his band of 50. This information and other historic pieces are included in the exhibit courtesy of the Claremont Opera House.
“The Opera House has long been a cornerstone of the cultural and artistic heritage of Claremont. By showcasing a brief glimpse of the building’s history, we can appreciate the importance of preserving landmarks that hold the stories of generations before us,” said Chris Qualls, board president of the COH. “It’s wonderful to see history celebrated and remind us of how much the past contributes to the character of our city.”
The establishment of the commission and the efforts of many local arts organizations demonstrate how the city continues to prioritize investment in arts and culture, in contrast to recent actions by the state legislature, which is trying to defund the State Arts Council and State Library.
“The arts and humanities are too important in this city to be defunded. They are economic drivers for our downtown core, and represent who we are as a community,” said Dalke.
The Commission started its work in July 2024 to record the city owned historic artifacts, which will be used to inspire future exhibits. The spring exhibit will run until June 26 and is open to the public Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on a few select Saturday mornings.
